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But they've learned a few things over the years: Get to Daytona International Speedway by 5 a.m. on Thursday to claim a camping spot; there is no such thing as too much beer or firewood; and the more couches, the better.

Tents, RVs and home-built viewing decks covered infield campgrounds during the Rolex 24 A Daytona Saturday. When it comes to watching the 24-hour race, infield campers say they'd trade the luxuries of a hotel room for a front-row seat to the action and parties.

Hall, 25, and his friends have transformed their infield campsite into a village with dozens of tents, a fire, couches, a viewing deck built out of scaffolds, surround-sound speakers, a pool table and games of cornhole.

Hall has also learned how to bring everything he needs in one trip from his home in Orange City.

"Everyone chips in and it gets bigger every year," he said. "We are expecting about 100 of our friends to join us by the end of the night."

Hall and his friends grew up in Port Orange and are graduates of Spruce Creek and Atlantic high schools. The Rolex serves as a reunion for the friends each year.

"We have so many Rolex stories, I wouldn't know where to start," Hall said, although he did mention a certain fire that got out of hand when a couch was used as fuel.

Nearby, Ormond resident Casey "Goose" Bellows sat tall above the infield tents in his monster truck and a sleeping trailer he built. Using a stepladder to climb in and out of his home away from home, Bellows said he is used to stares and questions from curious onlookers.

"I get pulled over a lot and after I show police that my truck is street legal, they usually ask if they can take a picture," he said.

Bellows, a recent Embry-iddle Aeronautical University graduate who is planning to enter the U.S. Air Force in April, transformed his Ford Bronco into a monster truck with huge tires, neon lights and a large stereo system. Last week the 24-year-old and his friends spent eight hours building the trailer, which has a bed and pillows for sleeping.

"We just used things that I had in the garage," he said. "It's a pretty comfortable place to sleep during the race."

Jim Redden, meanwhile, used his skills as a professional carpenter to build a cooking station, chairs and a removable viewing deck for the bed of his truck. The Brunswick, Ga., native watched the Rolex 24 with his 12-year-old grandson, Judd Wilder, at their campsite on the infield. When it comes to experiencing the Rolex 24, Redden said there's no place he'd rather be.

"This is where all the action is," he said. "Next year we're planning to take it up a notch and move our viewing deck even higher."

<p>DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; When Kyle Hall and about 20 of his high school friends started camping in the infield 10 years ago, he admits they made a few rookie mistakes. </p><p>But they've learned a few things over the years: Get to Daytona International Speedway by 5 a.m. on Thursday to claim a camping spot; there is no such thing as too much beer or firewood; and the more couches, the better. </p><p>Tents, RVs and home-built viewing decks covered infield campgrounds during the Rolex 24 A Daytona Saturday. When it comes to watching the 24-hour race, infield campers say they'd trade the luxuries of a hotel room for a front-row seat to the action and parties. </p><p>Hall, 25, and his friends have transformed their infield campsite into a village with dozens of tents, a fire, couches, a viewing deck built out of scaffolds, surround-sound speakers, a pool table and games of cornhole. </p><p>Hall has also learned how to bring everything he needs in one trip from his home in Orange City. </p><p>"Everyone chips in and it gets bigger every year," he said. "We are expecting about 100 of our friends to join us by the end of the night." </p><p>Hall and his friends grew up in Port Orange and are graduates of Spruce Creek and Atlantic high schools. The Rolex serves as a reunion for the friends each year. </p><p>"We have so many Rolex stories, I wouldn't know where to start," Hall said, although he did mention a certain fire that got out of hand when a couch was used as fuel. </p><p>Nearby, Ormond resident Casey "Goose" Bellows sat tall above the infield tents in his monster truck and a sleeping trailer he built. Using a stepladder to climb in and out of his home away from home, Bellows said he is used to stares and questions from curious onlookers. </p><p>"I get pulled over a lot and after I show police that my truck is street legal, they usually ask if they can take a picture," he said. </p><p>Bellows, a recent Embry-iddle Aeronautical University graduate who is planning to enter the U.S. Air Force in April, transformed his Ford Bronco into a monster truck with huge tires, neon lights and a large stereo system. Last week the 24-year-old and his friends spent eight hours building the trailer, which has a bed and pillows for sleeping. </p><p>"We just used things that I had in the garage," he said. "It's a pretty comfortable place to sleep during the race." </p><p>Jim Redden, meanwhile, used his skills as a professional carpenter to build a cooking station, chairs and a removable viewing deck for the bed of his truck. The Brunswick, Ga., native watched the Rolex 24 with his 12-year-old grandson, Judd Wilder, at their campsite on the infield. When it comes to experiencing the Rolex 24, Redden said there's no place he'd rather be. </p><p>"This is where all the action is," he said. "Next year we're planning to take it up a notch and move our viewing deck even higher."</p>